Murder Most Royal

No need to watch ’em spook the swans and muck up the moat.’

‘Did they let you go?’

‘Not specifically. But I saw no reason to watch and wait. If we don’t hunt – even a drag hunt like this – we’ll lose the right to do it at all.’

The Queen wondered if she had heard him right. Hugh seemed to be in an excellent mood, and more concerned about a drag hunt than a murder hunt on his own property. Once again, she had been so confident of her ideas . . . and now she was doubting them. Had she made a huge mistake? She had been so certain that by now it would all be over.

‘I hope you find the others soon. I need to get back to the car,’ she said, nodding and smiling at him, backing gently away, resisting the urge to run.

Hugh nodded and smiled back. But he and his horse were standing between her and the stile, and he didn’t get out of the way.

‘They keep me informed of everything,’ she said evenly. ‘It was a courtesy. You and I are friends, Hugh, after all.’

He nodded at that, but he was giving her a very unnerving, piercing stare.

‘Informed of everything . . .’ he said thoughtfully.

‘I hope Flora’s all right. Is she dealing with the police alone? I gather they had Valentine in custody earlier. That must be—’

The baron’s smile stayed fixed. ‘Flora can look after herself. Valentine has done nothing wrong. Therefore, the police will find nothing.

‘You know what I mean.’

‘If anything happened, it was warranted. It’s water under the bridge.’

There was a strange serenity to him, as if what was going on had nothing to do with him. The Queen was offended by it.

Hugh stiffened. ‘Chris Wallace took his own life, poor bastard. That wasn’t my fault. Leave him out of this.’

He looked dismissive. ‘If they find a body at Ladybridge, so what? They can’t prove who put it there. For God’s sake, ma’am. Ned’s been missing for weeks.

The Queen was exasperated by his stubborn refusal to face the truth. ‘As soon as they start looking for evidence, they’ll find it. His stomach will still contain the poison you used to knock him out. It was hemlock, wasn’t it? In honour of the ghost. Lee’s gardening books would have told you where to find it on the estate. It grows wild near our riverbanks. It probably does near yours. You could have saved it from the summer.’

Hugh hesitated.